Enyimba Football Club trained on the new turf of their revamped stadium for the first time on Friday. After nearly three seasons away from home due to reconstruction, Friday’s training session marked a symbolic and emotional return for the seven time Nigerian champions who had hundreds of fans in the stands cheering their every move […]
via Enyimba Train On New Turf, Receive $5000 From Governor Okezie — newfanzoneblog
The Abia State Government has awarded contract for the reconstruction of the Umuahia Township Stadium in readiness for the kick-off of the 2015/16 Premier League season.
Chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Chief Emeka Inyama disclosed this at the club’s secretariat during an end-of-year get-together organized by the management and board for staff, supporters club and well wishers.
He disclosed that MONIMICHELLE Sports Facility Construction Limited will handle the reconstruction project, assuring that work will be completed before the beginning of the season.
The chairman also announced that the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will soon perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the club’s 40-hectare sports complex situated in Umuahia.
According to him the first phase of the project will begin next month and will include the construction of an ultra modern office complex, a 40-room hostel for the players and two practicing pitches while the second phase will witness the construction of a multi-purpose hall, a three-star hotel, an ultra-modern housing estate and a swimming pool which will generate money for the club.
He said most of the job will be carried out in partnership with the private sector, pointing our talks have also reached an advanced stage with a Chinese firm in this regard.
The chairman disclosed that when finalized, the deal will run into millions of naira and save the government the inconveniences of sponsoring such huge projects.
He commended the state Governor for having the interest to carry the burden of sponsoring two premier league sides and a National League club despite all odds disclosing that Abia Warriors remains the only side without having money issues with either management, staff or players as the club has paid salary up to December, 2015 and is not owing any match allowance or bonuses.
Chief Inyama said the club will continue to be run professionally in order to set the pace and urged the technical crew led by Kennedy Boboye to do its best to win the league or at least grab a continental ticket at the end of the season.
The ceremony was attended by members of the supporters club, the Abia State Director of Sports, Isaac Ogbonnaya Isaac, a representative of the sports Ministry, Boniface Arukwe, members of the Abia State football Association and the club’s supporters and well wishers.
Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia has unveiled the immediate past Chief Coach of Sunshine Stars of Akure, Kennedy Boboye as its new Manager.
The 37-year-Old former U-23 star was unveiled in Umuahia to the club’s fans and well wishers in a ceremony that attracted who is who in sports in Abia State.
Boboye, who was accompanied to the occasion by his manager, Idika Okoro, is coming to Umuahia having led Sunshine Stars to a 6th finish in last season’s league and missed a continental ticket by whiskers. He replaces former Flying Eagles tactician, Isa Ladan Bosso, who led Abia Warriors in its first two Premier Seasons.
In his speech, the Chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club, Chief Emeka Inyama said the club was happy to grab a man they had monitored and admired for a long time because of his technical qualities and hoped he would bring his experience to bear.
Chief Inyama, who commended the State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for his relentless support to Abia Warriors, lamented that Bosso could not meet the club’s target of picking at least a continental ticket in the two seasons he held sway, adding that the club has accepted his resignation and wished him well in his future endeavours.
The Chairman, however reminded Boboye that the ball was now in his court insisting that the club’s ambition is to go for the league title or at least pick a continental ticket at the end of the season and promised him of all the assistance he needs from the management in order to succeed.
Speaking shortly after signing the dotted lines, Boboye said he was happy to be a member of the Abia Warriors family and promised that he would consolidate on the foundation already established in order to take the club to the expected height.
While calling for all hands to be on deck, Boboye, said he had always admired the way Abia Warriors play, revealing that he decided to pitch his tent with the Umuahia based outfit despite offers coming from elsewhere, because of the professional way the club is run and promised that with God on his side he would meet the club’s aspirations at the end of the season.
Abia Warriors petit mid-fielder, Anthony Okemmiri shone like a million stars and was voted the man-of-the-match by sports writers who covered the week 36 Glo Premier League encounter between Abia Warriors Football Club and Enyimba International of Aba at the Umuahia township Stadium at the weekend which Enyimba won 1-0.
The Uzuakoli, in Abia State – born former Dolphins of Port Harcourt and Kwara United Utility player, who joined the Umuahia based Warriors this season, also won the maiden edition of the award in Abia Warriors’ last home match against Lobi Stars of Makurdi a fortnight ago also in Umuahia.
Tony beat his closest rival, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba who scored the only goal in the Abia derby to cart home the award instituted by the Abia Warriors management to encourage the players put up their best during home games.
Receiving the award from a business mogul Chief Obioma Okorie, Tony expressed gratitude to the management of Abia Warriors for initiating the award, adding that he was humbled and honoured to win it back-to-back and particularly against a star- studded Enyimba side promising that he will continue to do his best to lift Abia Warriors to greater heights.
Earlier, Chief Obioma Okorie, who was the guest of honour at the match, described Tony as a highly skilful footballer, predicting that he would go places if he keeps his head low.
The much publicized Abia “el-Classico”, lived up to expectations as the two sides kept it tight. Enyimba was awarded a penalty in the first half but captain, Chinedu Udoji shot tamely into the waiting hands of Chinedu Anozie, in goal for the Warriors.
As the game wore on, the capacity crowd which included the State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, thought it could end goalless until substitute, Mfon Udoh broke lose from the left side and dragged the ball beyond Bassey Akpan.
The Warriors attack, led by Super Eagles striker, Chisom Chikatara, bombarded the Enyimba defence ceaselessly but could not find the equalizer.
The Chairman, Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia, Chief Emeka Inyama, has challenged various state football associations to organize strong and virile league for local clubsides in their states to act as a foundation for the discovery of burden stars who could be nurtured for national teams.
Chief Inyama, who threw the challenge in Umuahia when members of the Abia State Football Association called on him, lamented that local State league competitions which created waves in the past, was fast becoming extinct as most state FAs no longer pay serious attention to it.
He noted that going back to the grassroots will enable the country discover more hidden talents and promised that Abia Warriors Youth Team will participate actively in the State league which the Abia FA is planning to organize.
The Abia Warriors Chairman, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria National League Board, commended the cordial relationship currently existing between the Abia FA and clubsides in the State, pointing out that the situation is so because the members are united.
He used the opportunity to commend the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for his support to sports generally and football in
particular, describing him as a square peg in a square hole while promising that Abia Warriors will make the state proud at the end of the season.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Abia State Football Association, Sir Ephraim Chukuemeka said they had come to present the new executive to the Chairman after their last election in which he noted, Chief Inyama supported them highly to emerge.
Sir, Chukuemeka, who described Abia Warriors as partners in progress, pointed out the club is run with the highest international standard and promised that the football Association will always stand by the club at all times.
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